Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.

Thought for the Evening
8-29

God's 4-H Club

"And it shall be, when the Lord your God shall have brought you into the land
that He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob,
to give you great and goodly cities, which you did not build
and houses full of all good things, which you did not fill,
and wells dug, which you did not dig,
vineyards and olive trees, which you did not plant,
when you shall have eaten and are full, then beware, lest you forget the Lord."
Deuteronomy 6:10-12

In certain sections of this country, children are invited to join a club called the 4-H Club, and the activities that club has for young people are good. But I call God's perfect will for His children "God's 4-H Club". He wants all His children in it.

God is much more interested in His children learning how to be holy while being blessed than learning how to be holy while suffering. He wants us to know how to be Happy, Healthy, Humble and Holy, all at the same time.

Can you be happy without being foolish? Can you be healthy without becoming proud of your strength? Our heavenly Father wants us to be blessed and pure, and not have to be restrained by sickness and trouble. He exhorted His Old Testament people, "Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding, whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near you" (Ps. 32:9). God does not want to have to strap us down to make us behave. He wants us to live with no shackles, no chains, no bits and bridles upon us to keep us on the right path. He wants us to be healthy enough to run along the road of holiness without going out of control and veering off into worldly paths.

Can God trust you with happiness? Can you be carefree and still care for others? God's 4-H Club, His perfect will for His chosen people, is for all who love Jesus. If we can bear His blessings with meekness, He will give us those blessings and keep us from all evil. These are the four "H's". May God help us live in them:

Happiness
Health
Humility
Holiness

Daily Thoughts

In Isaiah 55, we are told that God's thoughts are not our thoughts and that God's thoughts are as far from men as the heavens are from the earth. These collections of thoughts were given to Pastor John from the holy Spirit of God. For God to condescend to man, and to give His thoughts to him is a rare and precious thing. That is why these thoughts are so valuable.

These thoughts can cheer the hearts of the discouraged; bring unity to divided situations and, speak words of life and hope at the most needed times. Many of the experiences, teachings, and thoughts in this book came from Pastor John's father, George C. "Preacher" Clark. "Preacher Clark" was also a man anointed by God with a message for God's children. So these collections include nearly a century of experience in the things of God and doctrinal truths sent by the holy Ghost to true pastors.